Influencing factors of bone mass abnormalities among postmenopausal women in Tibet, China

Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass, microarchitectural deterioration in bone tissue and enhanced bone fragility, leading to increased fracture risk, disability and mortality [1]. Bone mass abnormalities include osteopenia and osteoporosis. Osteopenia, defined by the World Health Organization as a bone mineral density (BMD) T score between − 2.5 and − 1.0 [2], implies an increased risk of fracture in diagnosed individuals compared to healthy individuals but is not severe enough to be considered a disease state. Osteoporosis is highly prevalent in postmenopausal women due to their menopausal state and reduced oestrogen levels. It is estimated that 40% of postmenopausal women have osteoporosis, and 50% of postmenopausal women may have an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime [3].

Currently, studies suggest that race is an important influencing factor for osteoporosis. In the United States, the prevalence of osteoporosis among Mexican Americans is more than twice that among non-Hispanic black adults [4]. Moreover, in Canada, BMD values were higher in individuals with Chinese race/ethnicity than in white Canadians [5].

Furthermore, factors of geographical environments, such as altitude, atmospheric oxygen content, and the duration of sun exposure, may also impact human bone mass status [6, 7]. At present, there are a few studies about the influence of high altitude on human bone mass [8, 9]. However, most studies have focused on the change in bone mass status in people who migrate from low-altitude areas to high-altitude areas for a short period of time, and there is a lack of studies on populations who have lived in plateaus for generations.

The Tibet Autonomous Region is located in southwest China, has an average altitude of over 4,000 m, and has a unique topography, natural climate and traditional culture. The large range of altitudes in Tibet provides greater representativeness to study the relationship between altitude and osteoporosis. Tibetan individuals are an ethnic minority group in China with a total population of over 7 million, mainly distributed in Tibet. Owing to the influence of the geographical environment and customs, Tibetans have particular behaviours and lifestyles.

This was a population-based study to explore the influencing factors of bone mass abnormalities in postmenopausal Tibetan women and analyse the effect of different altitudes on bone mass status to provide a reference for corresponding prevention and treatment efforts.

The general characteristics of the subjects enrolled in this study are shown in Table 1. Of the 229 postmenopausal women, 82 (35.8%) had normal bone mineral density, 125 (54.6%) had osteopenia, and 22 (9.6%) had osteoporosis. The results indicated that registered permanent residence, education level, and physical exercise were not significantly different among groups. Osteoporosis was significantly more prevalent among age, BMI, the hypertensive heart disease, and high-altitude groups (P < 0.05).

The biochemical indicators of the subjects are presented in Table 2. The results of one-way ANOVA showed statistically significant differences in TC, LDL-C, and CREA levels between the normal bone mass group and the osteoporosis group and between the osteopenia group and the osteoporosis group (P < 0.05), while there were no significant differences between the normal bone mass group and the osteopenia group.

The rapid decline in oestrogen levels due to menopause affects the body's immune, secretion and regulatory functions, which in turn causes the activation and proliferation of T cells, ultimately resulting in a significant reduction in bone mass and osteoporosis. With no effective way to eradicate osteoporosis, the prevention of osteoporosis is particularly important [12].

Among the 229 postmenopausal Tibetan women in this study, 82 (35.8%) had normal bone mineral density, 125 (54.6%) had osteopenia and 22 (9.6%) had osteoporosis; that is, the majority of postmenopausal women (64.2%) were still in a state of abnormal bone mass.

Multivariate regression analysis showed that older age and a low BMI were risk factors for osteoporosis. After menopause, oestrogen deficiency leads to the destruction of the balance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and bone loss is further aggravated with increasing age [13]. High BMI is a protective factor against osteoporosis, which increases the mechanical loads and strains associated with obesity, prevents age-related bone loss, and increases peak bone mass, favourably affecting the skeleton [14, 15].

Altitude plays an important role in affecting bone mass. Some relevant studies [16, 17] have indicated that high altitude is a risk factor for osteoporosis, which could be attributed to the low-oxygen environment affecting the natural metabolism of bone tissues, disrupting the balance between bone resorption and bone formation and ultimately leading to osteoporosis. However, to a certain extent, the Tibetan population, as an ethnic group that has lived on the plateau for generations, can adapt to the hypoxic environment of the plateau better than people who migrate from low- to high-altitude environments for a short period of time by regularizing themselves. Previous studies demonstrated that Tibetans living at higher altitudes tended to have lower haemoglobin concentrations and higher respiratory rates, carbon monoxide levels, and blood flow velocities than those living at lower altitudes, all of which are favourable for tolerance to hypoxic environments [18, 19]. In addition, some animal studies have observed that high altitude has a positive effect on promoting bone development and enhancing bone density. For example, sheep with high alpine grazing had higher bone mineral content and density than sheep grazing in lowlands [20], and high altitude had positive effects on the tibial growth plates in poultry [21]. The findings of this research indicated that the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis was lower in high-altitude areas, which was consistent with the conclusion of Luo DJ [22]. On the one hand, at high altitudes in Tibet, sunlight and ultraviolet intensity are sufficient to produce enough vitamin D to help with the absorption of calcium in the body [23]; on the other hand, Tibet is involved in animal husbandry and has an abundance of dairy products. The demand for dairy products is greater among residents of high-altitude areas due to their high calorie content; simultaneously, dairy products also promote bone density and prevent the loss of bone calcium because of their calcium-rich content [24]. In summary, the mechanism of the effect of altitude on populations living in highlands for generations needs further study.

Our research showed that the creatinine level in the osteoporosis group was lower than that in the other groups, suggesting the possibility of abnormal renal function, which can contribute to calcium metabolism disorders, leading to a large amount of calcium ions being excreted through the urine and ultimately resulting in osteoporosis [25]. In addition, low creatinine levels might also be associated with inadequate nutritional intake, which is detrimental to the enhancement of bone density [26].

Hypertensive heart disease encompasses anatomical changes and physiological alterations in the myocardium, coronary arteries, and great vessels, which is an important underlying mechanism of the morbidity and mortality of individuals with blood pressure-related cardiovascular disease [27]. Numerous studies have demonstrated a strong association between cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis [28, 29]. In this study, univariate analysis showed that hypertensive heart disease was associated with osteoporosis. The effects of hypertension on bone mineral density are multifaceted. On the one hand, hypertension can lead to the elevation of parathyroid hormone levels, which contributes to higher blood calcium levels, resulting in lower bone calcium content [30]; on the other hand, sympathetic excitation in hypertensive patients interferes with the natural process of bone resorption and bone formation, consequently decreasing bone density [31]. Diastolic function of the heart and bone density are also strongly correlated. First, calcium ions need to enter the circulation to form blood calcium, which is then deposited in the skeleton to increase bone density; this process is impaired by diastolic dysfunction of the heart, resulting in circulation abnormalities. Next, people with severe diastolic function abnormalities may experience discomfort, thereby reducing their physical activity, which leads to diminished calcium absorption. As a final note, cardiac failure also affects kidney function, causing a decrease in calcium ions [32].

There were some limitations in this research. First, the sample size included in this study was limited, which might result in some bias in the findings. Second, this cross-sectional study was insufficient to make causal inferences, and thus, the conclusions need to be further verified. Third, information on the volunteers' disease status was obtained in the form of questionnaires, which might lead to bias, as some people could be unsure as to whether they had the disease or not. Fourth, there were some confounding factors such as years since menopause, number of births and etc. that were not included in this study, which might produce some bias in the results.

Postmenopausal Tibetan women had high rates of abnormal bone mass. Age, BMI, altitude and CREA levels were associated with osteoporosis. It is suggested that relevant departments should take targeted measures to promote health education on the prevention of osteoporosis in the general population and increase the screening of high-risk groups of osteoporosis to improve the bone health of postmenopausal Tibetan women.